Turner Contemporary in Margate on shortlist for most popular National Lottery-funded project of the last 20 years along with Wembley and Olympic Park

A hunt to find the most popular National Lottery-funded project over the last 20 years has named the Turner Contemporary on its shortlist.

The Margate gallery will compete alongside the likes of Eden Project in Cornwall, the National Space Centre in Leicester, the Olympic Park and Wembley Stadium.

The campaign to find England’s National Treasure – to be decided by public vote – has been launched as part of the lottery’s 20th anniversary celebrations.

The Turner Contemporary at Margate could soon have a new neighbour

More than £4m of lottery cash was spent on launching the Turner Contemporary, which celebrated its third birthday in April.

Director Victoria Pomery said: “It is a tremendous honour that our work has been recognised when so many projects have been funded by the National Lottery.

“We’re urging our supporters to vote for us. We’d love to be crowned the nation’s best National Lottery project.”

National Lottery Good Causes director Vicki Kennedy said: “This is a fun way for people to show their backing for the projects they care most about and also gives us a great chance to celebrate the massive impact National Lottery players have had.

“England is packed full of National Treasures and we’re proud that National Lottery funding has been able to benefit so many of them. It will no doubt be tricky for people to pick just one as their favourite.”